Next week 1st to 7th May 2017

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

1st to 7th May 2017

The following is an extract from Bristol Geology Calendar

More details can be found in the Calendar and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Geol Soc Field Trip

WhenWednesday, 3 May 2017

WhereClifton Suspension Bridge Visitors Centre (map)

DescriptionWestern: Hard Hat tour of the Clifton Suspension Bridge Abutments Please Book Summer Fieldtrip - FULL Contact westernregionalgroup@gmail.com for more information

Thursday

19:15

 Bath Geol Soc Lecture - The Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary debate

WhenThu, 4 May, 19:15 – 20:45

WhereBath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16 Queen Square, Bath (map)

DescriptionThe Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary debate: myths, truths and uncertainties Professor Malcolm Hart, Emeritus Professor of Micropalaeontology, School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University The end-Cretaceous mass extinction is one of the 'big five' events in Earth history, seeing the demise of the non-avian dinosaurs, ammonites and a large percentage of the oceanic plankton. There is an on-going, heated, debate as to whether the bolide impact at Chicxulub (Mexico) or the eruption of the Deccan Volcanics were to blame, or was it a combination of both? Using field information from Denmark, Sweden, Italy, India, Brazil and the USA (Colorado, Texas and Alabama), the case for each possible cause will be reviewed. In some of these areas, especially Texas and Alabama, poor field descriptions have not helped in the debate! One critical issue, based on comparisons with the present day, is the role of ocean acidification, as this appears to be more important than previously thought.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Lapworth is a Contender!

Geology Museum in Contention for Museum of the Year

The Guardian reports that the Lapworth Museum of Geology in Birmingham is on the short list for the £100,000 prize as 2017 Museum of the Year.

This looks like passing geology students recruited to look interested!

The K-T revisited

There Was an Ice-Age Comet!

Here is an article suggesting (using non-geological evidence) that there was a cometary impact causing a mini ice age more than 13,000 years ago. The preceding article on this blog argues against it. No doubt a great deal of heat will be generated and, eventually, some light.

Ancient symbols carved into stone at an archaeological site in Turkey

Not the K-T revisited

Was there an Ice-age Comet?

HERE is a review about speculation concerning the cause of the Younger Dryas - a cold period 1,500 years long, about 12,000 years ago. In this period many of the larger mammalian species died out. A cometary impact has been suggested - this article suggests not. Please note that there is a second page, click the link at the end of the first page. Or click HERE.

Preserved mammoth skin with spots of fur. Such well preserved fossils, recovered from the Russian Tundra, let some authors speculate about a sudden death of the animals.

Next week 24th to 30th April 2017

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

24th to 30th April 2017

The following is an extract from Bristol Geology Calendar

More details can be found in the Calendar and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

Monday

19:30

 Dave Green's Geology of the Oceans

WhenMon, 24 April, 19:30 – 21:30

WhereWynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)

DescriptionThe Geology of the Oceans past and present (including plate tectonics, environments, and current/developing ideas on oceanography and marine geology). Often termed the last frontier to be explored on Earth, there have been great advances in our understanding of the oceanic realm over the past half century. This course aims to study the main developments and what we might expect in the future, based on current research. Monday 24th April, for 10 weeks, until 10th July (not 1st nor 29th May). Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays. Cost £70.

Tuesday

19:30

 WEGA AGM

WhenTue, 25 April, 19:30 – 20:30

WhereEarth Sciences Lecture Theatre, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol, United Kingdom (map)

DescriptionAnnual General Meeting, followed by slide show of last years WEGA trip to NW USA - and then FREE wine and cheese!!!

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

SWGA Field Trip - Martley, Herefordshire

WhenSaturday, 29 Apr 2017

WhereMeet at 10:00 am at the Crown public house (WR6 6PA) at the crossing of the B4204 and B4197 in central Martley (map)

DescriptionLeader: John Nicklin, Teme Valley Geological Society Meet at 10:00 am at the Crown public house (WR6 6PA) at the crossing of the B4204 and B4197 in central Martley. On this return visit to Martley we will be seeing the Carboniferous, Permian and Quaternary. It will be a drive and walk excursion so it would help if we could double- up at the meeting place due to limited parking at one site. There will be a few shortish walks, a couple of which are uphill and the slopes may be muddy. We may return to Martley at lunchtime where lunch could be taken at the pub (to be confirmed closer to the event).

Sunday

Footsteps in the Pyrenees

Triassic Pyrenean Reptile

The BBC reports on the finding of the footprints of a reptile in the Pyrenees of Catalonia. The maker of the footprints is probably a member of the Euparkeria and has been named as a new species Prorotodactylus mesaxonichnus.

Its importance is that it may represent the recovery of vertebrates after the major extinction at the end of the Permian. 

But what is nice about this news is that there is a link to the original article which you can read in all its glory HERE. There is an abundance of maps, photos and interpretation which makes by little bit above look deeply inadequate!

River Capture in the Yukon

   River Capture Happening Now!    (- well almost)

The Guardian reports how the northerly flowing waters of the Slim River were diverted into the Alsek River which flows south. The diversion happened when water from the rapidly retreating Kakawulsh glacier eroded a channel to the Kaskawulsh River and eventually the Alsek. And all this happened in four days in May last year.

A view of the ice canyon that now carries meltwater from the Kaskawulsh glacier, seen here on the right, away from the Slims river and toward the Kaskawulsh river. Photograph: Dan Shugar/University of Washington Tacoma

The source paper in Nature Geoscience can be found HERE. But, unless you have a subscription you can only read the abstract.

The New York Times reports on it with more pictures HERE.

And Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports it HERE.

Save the Geopark

Support the North West Highland Geopark

If you have been to the North West Highlands of Scotland recently you will have seen the work done by the Geopark. Funds are short however and you can help by donating them some money. I have and you can do the same by going to THIS WEBSITE.

Next week 17th to 23rd April 2017

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

17th to 23rd April 2017

The following is an extract from Bristol Geology Calendar

More details can be found in the Calendar and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

Monday

Tuesday

Geol Soc Lecture - Geoethics

WhenTuesday, 18 Apr 2017

WhereThe Hub, Aztec West (map)

DescriptionNic Bilham, Director of Policy and Communications, Geological Society Western: Geoethics, Professionalism and Me – Social and Ethical Responsibilities of the 21st Century Geoscientist

Wednesday

Thursday

19:30

 Thornbury Geology Group meeting

WhenThu, 20 April, 19:30 – 20:30

Description Thornbury Geology Group, The Chantry, Thornbury, 7.30pm, contact 01454 416882 The group is is an offshoot of Thornbury and District Museum and we welcome new members. Previous geological knowledge can be helpful but is not necessary as members are very willing to share their own knowledge with anyone keen to learn more about Earth Science. The group is loosely following a pre-recorded lecture series which is supplemented by use of other material and geological specimens. On occasions a guest speaker will talk on their specialist topic. Costs are met from attending members' monthly contributions and the group does not have membership subscriptions or a committee

Friday

19:00

 Cheltenham MGS Lecture - Left/Right Bivalves

WhenFri, 21 April, 19:00 – 21:00

WhereShurdington at The Century Hall (map)

Description Dr Joe Angseesing - Left/Right Bivalves

Saturday

Sunday

OUGS Severnside - Excursion

WhenSunday, 23 Apr 2017

WhereMeet at 10.30. at the Cliff Top car park, Penarth Grid ref. ST 186 704 (map)

DescriptionEvent: Lavernock to Penarth Leader: Steve Howe Location: Meet at 10.30. at the Cliff Top car park, Penarth Grid ref. ST 186 704 Date: April 23rd 2017 (Sunday) Type: Day Trip Contact #1: Jan Ashton-Jones [janaj1009@gmail.com] Introductory Field Trip We will examine the geology of the coastal exposure between Penarth and Lavernock Starting at the car park we will walk along the pavement down the hill to the slipway opposite the Life Boat station in Penarth. We will then walk along the beach to Lavernock Point. Packed lunch required.

Next week 10th to 16th April 2017

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

10th to 16th April 2017

The following is an extract from Bristol Geology Calendar

More details can be found in the Calendar and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

Monday

10:00

 Teme Valley Geological Society Lecture - Lead isotopes

WhenMon, 10 April, 10:00 – 11:00

WhereMartley Memorial Hall B4197 by Sports Ground (map)

DescriptionLead Isotopes in Olympic Weymouth Prof. Jane Evans Contact Janet 01886 821061 to find out the time!

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Penguin feet

Paleontology of Birds

HERE is a surprisingly erudite article from the Guardian about the descent of birds (or is it the ascent) with lots of Latin names, references etc. The starting point is the discovery of a penguin fossil foot in New Zealand. 

The editors attempt to make it palatable (as they think) for newspaper readers by headlining it  "Happy feet: why a 61m-year-old penguin foot has researchers dancing for joy". But thankfully that is the extent of their activity.

The new giant penguin fossil foot bones (left) next to those of a modern penguin (right). Photograph: Gerald Mayr

Lava balloons

You Wouldn't Expect That! - Lava Balloons

I came across this article and found it amazing! Read and be astonished!

Lava balloons are pieces of hollow, cooled lava burped up from the seafloor after some types of undersea volcanic eruptions. This balloon was recovered from the 1998–2001 eruption near the Azores, Portugal. Credit: Ulrich Küppers.

Lava balloons floating in the ocean on 18 January 2012 during an eruption off the coast of the Canary Islands, Spain. Credit: Laura García-Cañada, CC BY 3.0

Fossil Stars

Echinoderms in Folklore

I came across THIS today. It is an article by Paul Taylor of the Natural History Museum all about folkloric beliefs about echinoderms. It is very interesting and has superb illustrations.

It comes from Deposits Magazine which seems to be well worth looking at.

Don't mention Brexit

Europe Cut Off, (450,000 Years Ago)

The Financial Times reports on how the sea broke through the chalk ridge between England and France. Cold water and sunlit uplands. The comments on the article are interesting (if not particularly geological).

England in the background, Calais in the foreground, Europe about to be cut off (or something like that) - the scene 450,000 years ago just before the land bridge is breached.

A 3D bathymetric view looking north-east, showing the deep valley in the centre of the straits

Daspletosaurus horneri - all you need to know

Face to face with Tyrannosaurus

There seems to be an insatiable appetite for knowledge about dinosaurs, especially T. rex. Here is some more from the Guardian and from Ars Technica talking about the same fossils. 

New research reveals that the face in tyrannosaurs was covered by an extensive mask of large, flat scales, and regions of armor-like skin on the snout, jaws, and ornamental horns. The large horn behind the eye was covered by the same material that makes human fingernails. The small bumps on the flat scales are Integumentary Sensory Organs (ISOs), as are seen in crocodiles, that provide extreme tactile sensitivity.